When you plant a pomegranate tree diagram , Punica granatum , you ’re most potential hoping that it ’ll be productive for a farsighted time to fare .
It ’s necessary to have patience , as it can take a few years before the plants commence to produce yield .
Each season , you ’ll be waiting at least six month from the clock time they set fruit in spring or summer until they ’re ready to harvest , typically in late summertime or fall .
While you ’re play the waiting game , there are several factor that not only touch on how the fruit matures , but that can impact how successful the yield will finally be in terms of character as well .
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products . If you buy from one of our links , we may earn a commission .
Some of these factors can lead to an unfortunately common outcome : cracked or split up yield . What was once a semi - round , leathery globe is suddenly a mess of debunk , decompose arils , still attach to the limb .
Why does this happen ? How can we forbid it ? have ’s take a airless look .
Why Pomegranate Fruits Split on the Tree
1. Water Stress
Pomegranate Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or shrubs opt to produce in semi - desiccated to desiccated conditions , where humidity is relatively low for the majority of the year . patently , regions that have an desiccated clime have small average yearly rainfall .
When the plants are blossom and bring forth fruit , which occurs at the same time between natural spring and gloam , they typically ask more water .
It ’s necessary to provide one inch of water per workweek to maintain healthy yield product in the absence of rainfall .
Overall , pomegranate tree require about 45 to 60 inch of rain per year . A pelting gauge can helpyou to cover how much precipitation your garden receives .
If the plant does n’t receive enough water system , especially during periods when temperatures are high-pitched , the fruits will begin to dry out .
This can lead to dropping if the issue is not corrected , as the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree struggles to retain moisture and conserve energy .
As moisture is lost , the frame - cake seeds on the interior , known asarils , will get down to funk in size .
The rind , have it off as thepericarp , will also shrink and dry to compensate for the reduced size of it of the national aril . As the rind dries out , it loses elasticity .
If it then rains heavily , or if supplemental weewee is suddenly provide , the tree diagram will chop-chop take it up . The H2O then begins to diffuse back into the fruits , replenishing the fluid and causing them to expand .
Because the pericarp has flinch , hardened , and lost elasticity , it ca n’t expand adequately , and will crack instead .
In some cases when the pericarp is not able-bodied to extend , the yield can dissever only , opening up and uncover the aril .
Overwatering in the declension in particular , when the majority of the fruit is ripen , will likely lead to cracking .
Tips for Preventing Water Stress
If you know in a region where rain is scarce , it ’s best to put up one inch of supplementary water per week , per industrial plant , to keep pomegranate from becoming stressed in time of drought .
It can be easiest to install anirrigation systemfor watering multiple trees or shrubs , or if you sometimes forget to water your plants . It ’s up to you how elaborated of a system you ’d prefer to use ; they can change widely in conformation and range in price .
A good basic outfit that can be attached to the exterior hose spigot isthis one , available from Home Depot .
Drip and Micro Sprinkler Kit
This system include drip irrigation tubes and micro - sprinkler which can do the john to keep industrial plant watered on a budget , or in a modest area such as a residential yard .
If you ’ve baffle a larger area or more plants to offer water for , you might deal a system that can well be exposit to cover a larger zone , and ready it to water on a docket , using a timer to get the job done even if you forget .
But water stress is not the only reason that fruits might crack or split on the tree . countenance ’s take a flavor at nutritional subject next .
2. Nutrient Deficiencies
While pomegranate flora are generally very tolerant of harsh condition such as drouth , high heating system , and piteous soil , these conditions can sometimes make stress nonetheless , and extend to spring up issues .
pitiable soil that is low in constitutional material or high in stiff or sand can miss essential nutrients that support plant ontogenesis , as well as bud and fruit development .
Without these nutrients , many augury of hurt may become unmistakable , such as stunted growth , discoloration , and bud drop .
inadequacy can also lead to several emergence with germinate yield , particularly in the early stages .
Fruits that do not encounter enough potassium or atomic number 20 may show signs ofchlorosis , or discoloration that stage as “ bleaching , ” which can preempt snap and splitting .
Tips for Preventing Nutrient Deficiencies
Prevention is the well method for accost deficiencies , as it ’s much well-off to amend the grease onward of meter than it is to seek to correct short emergence or damage after the fruit has formed .
If the fruits are already crack , unluckily it ’s going to be too recent to correct for the current grow time of year .
filth testingprior to planting , or in previous wintertime or other spring to correspond on the planting area for existing trees , can paint a ikon of the overall health and alimental accessibility of your territory .
If test results show that the filth is miss in nutrients , you ’ll most belike need to apply fertiliser .
Pomegranates do n’t opt heavy applications , so it ’s important to prefer a suitable fertilizer type and method of delivery for the best outcome .
For everlasting information , see our guide to fertilizing pomegranates .
3. Temperature Fluctuations
speedy or utmost change in temperature can also lead to cracking . Even though they ’re generally very estrus - patient of , a large jump from dispirited to high-pitched temperature can still cause damage .
This is known to come about unremarkably in desert area where nightlong temperature can be below freeze , while daytime temperatures can climb up to over 80 ° F .
Extreme heat can cause the plant to take up more water as an emergency beat , in an effort to anticipate wet loss due to transpiration . When this occurs , the arils inside may expand as they swell with fluid .
Swollen fruits will collapse , as the ruffianly rind ca n’t stretch to accommodate the enlarged arils .
Tips for Protecting Plants from Temperature Fluctuations
Unfortunately , it ’s very hard to preclude cracking due to temperature changes , but score sure your plant is adequately water can help .
cut across or moving potted plant to render tad or tribute from cold can also assist if you are growing a dwarf tree in a container .
4. Overripening
All plants have a natural growth Hz , and the goal of this is topropagate more plant , guaranteeing survival of the fittest of the species .
Pomegranates are no different . If fruits are left to ripen past their prime , they ’ll course begin to break open open , casting seeds onto the soil below , or becoming food for birds and other animals that impart the seeds off to grow in other locations .
Tips for Preventing Overripening
It can be tricky to know when the fruits are fully ripen andready for harvest . Unlike others , such aspeachesorapples , pomegranates wo n’t exhibit significant change in the semblance or grain of fruit that indicate when it ’s clock time to pick .
For full details on the signs to keep an middle out for when picking Punica granatum , including how to tell when they ’re ripe , see our guide .
5. Heart Rot Disease
Though pomegranates are hardy trees that are not acknowledge for being particularly susceptible to disease , one in particular is known to lead to split , stinking fruits .
ticker rot , also known as black pith , is triggered by the fungusAlternaria alternata . This fungus penetrates the calyx of blooms , and then remains dormant until the blossom becomes fruit .
The rind remains normal in coming into court and can even full mature , but the Department of the Interior will become infected with the fungus , turn black as the arils rot .
Tips for Preventing Heart Rot Disease
At this meter , there ’s no known curative for pump rot , although app program of a fungicide early on in the growing season may dissuade infection .
Learn more about philia hogwash , and other disease , in ourcomplete guide to pomegranate blighter and diseases .
Is It Safe to Eat?
It ’s important to note that split fruit is not inevitably ruin . You should always take a penny-pinching look at whatever you plunk prior to toss out it .
Cracked Punica granatum may be salvageable if the national gist is not breached , and the arils remain protect and moist .
Even those that split open wide could still be usable if you ’re capable to catch them early on .
The DoI may still be comestible as long as the arils are not shriveled or showing signs of rotting – if birds and insects do n’t get to them before you do , that is .
If the reason of splitting is a fungal disease – which may cause discoloration , stinking aril , gray mould , or flabby slur in the pericarp – the fruits should not be consumed .
Instead , they should be discard in the trash to stave off spread pathogens throughout your curtilage or garden .
Do not place mess up fruits that show signs of disease on yourcompost galvanic pile , or near other plants where they may lead to further spread .
Even Tough Plants Have Their Weaknesses
Despite this rather common issue , spring up pomegranates can be implausibly rewarding and fun .
Their typical form and flavor , coupled with their awful nutritional value , make it well worth the effort required to grow them .
And if you still have more questions about growing fruitingpomegranates , you might like read these guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photograph via Home Depot . Uncredited picture : Shutterstock .
About
Kelly Spicer
